Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
Starr’s childhood home still in existence
The home at 931 National St. in Montgomery doesn’t look like much. According to a neighbor, no one has lived there for years.
A cedar bush on the right side of the house, facing the street, nearly covers up the front door and half of the entire structure.
But it’s where NFL Hall of Fame quarterback for the Green Bay Packers Bart Starr lived when he was in high school. The home is just two buildings away from Good Samaritan Baptist Church, which is near I-65 exit 169 at Edgemont Avenue.
It was in this house where Starr signed his scholarship to play football for the University of Alabama on Dec. 3, 1951.
At 7:30 on a Monday night, when Starr, then a 165-pound quarterback at Lanier High School, signed in the presence of his dad, Sgt. Ben Starr, and mother, Lula Starr.
Representing the University of Alabama was “scout” James “Bubber” Nesbitt, who played at Alabama from 193337 where he was a teammate of legendary Crimson Tide coach Bear Bryant. Alabama’s head football coach at the time was Harold Drew.
In a photo cutline in the Alabama Journal the day after the signing, Starr said he wanted to study petroleum engineering in Tuscaloosa.
Starr’s high school teammate Nick Germanos signed with Crimson Tide the previous Saturday. The “recruiting” for Starr and Germanos appeared to be intense recruiting battle that crossed political lines.
The Alabama Journal sports editor confirmed that Alabama Gov. Gordon Persons hosted Starr and Germanos at the governor’s mansion.
Persons said the intent of the meeting was to persuade the two not to attend out-of-state schools. Though some contended, according to the Alabama sports editor, that the meeting was held to convince the two to attend Persons’ alma mater – Auburn.
The house was built in 1950. It contains one bath and 1,092 square feet with five rooms. The front yard is fenced off. Its approximate worth is listed at $14,559.
The house is not on the market.